Democratic governor Martin O’Malley (right) will sign Maryland’s gay marriage bill into law at 5pm on Thursday, reports the AP.
The bill passed the state Senate last Wednesday, 25-22.
Opponents are already mobilizing to get a referendum on the ballot in November. They’ll need 55,736 signatures to do so.
Martin O’Malley has championed gay-marriage legislation, speaking at rallies with marriage-equality supporters where he has vowed to sign the bill once it passes.
His wife even called anti-gay lawmakers “cowards,” though she ended up apologizing for that.
Maryland will become the eight state to legalize same-sex unions, joining Washington, New York, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia.
Chris
Didn’t you forget Connecticut in the list of states that have legalized same sex unions????
Hephaestion
Yay Martin O’Malley!!
Mike
This is misleading. The law does not go into effect until January 2013, so really the referendum will decide whether there is gay marriage in Maryland or not. And if you know Maryland, it will probably not happen. You’re popping the corks way too early.
Reggie
Thank you Maryland Governor O’Malley, and thank you Governor Lynch of New Hampshire for promising to veto any effort by the Republican controlled legislature to overturn gay marriage in that state.